Photos taken at the Maha Kumbh Mela 2013 festival near Allahabad (India).­

Kumbh Mela is the largest human gathering on Earth, taking place during 3 months once every 12 years, with more than 50 million Hindu pilgrims coming to pray and bath in the Ganges river at the Sangam, confluence of the Holy Ganga (Ganges) and the Holy Yamuna rivers.­

Maha Kumbh Mela is a larger Kumbh Mela that happens only once every 144 years.­ 2013 was the year of the Maha Kumbh Mela, a once in a lifetime event.­

Kumbh Mela occupies about 56 Square Kilometers (22 Square Miles) of sandy ground in the Ganges floodplain.­ The "permanent" population is 5 to 10 Million Hindu devotees housed in thousands of temporary Ashrams and tent camps, with an estimated at least 50 Million more pilgrims coming for the ritual baths during the 3 months period of the event.­ By some estimate, more than 100 Million pilgrims attended the 2013 Maha Kumbh Mela.­

The Kumbh Mela infrastructure is provided by the Indian government, and includes taps of drinking water, pit toilets, street lighting, streets paved with metal plates, and very helpful Police and emergency services.­

Royal Enfield are manufactured in India.­ They are rugged and simple to maintain and fix, which is why they are very popular in the Himalaya regions.­ The most popular model is 350cc, but there is also a 500cc version.­

Royal Enfield "Bullet" motorcycles are also heavy, sometimes unreliable and not fuel efficient, because they are based on a design that dates the 1940's, with only minor changes and improvements.­ But they are very simple to fix when they break down.­

I rented my Royal Enfield in Delhi, at a small shop called "Smart Motors" on Naiwala street in the Karol Bagh neighborhood.­ The owner, Mohit Soni, is a very nice guy, and they have good bikes.­ I recommend him.­

Other recommended shops to rent Enfield "Bullets" in Delhi are Lali Singh and Tony Motors.­